PIONEER HALL: BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE – PART 2

It is the largest and most widely-used building in the freeman community, and how it came to be is remarkable. A story told by Courier Publisher Jeremy Waltner in special partnership with Heritage Hall Museum & Archives 

Part 2

Were it not for circumstances beyond local control, Pioneer Hall would look different than it does today. In fact, it might not even exist at all.

It was 1943.

Freeman’s Mennonite-founded school known as Freeman Junior College and Academy was four decades into its service to the community and surrounding area, and it was continuing its growth. Specifically, the education institution was planning an expansion of its industrial arts program, and by 1944 school leadership had made plans to construct a new building to meet the needs of blacksmith, mechanics and shop classes. But World War II restrictions thwarted that vision.

Fast-forward to 1949.

Post-war planning had led the Freeman Junior College and Academy board of directors to pursue, not a new building for industrial arts, but rather one that could house a new auditorium, with space for a bookshop and a full basement that could be used for dining and other community gatherings. This wasn’t the 28 x 50 industrial arts building that had been planned five years earlier; this was a monster.

By the fall of 1949, the basement had been carved out in open land on the southwestern portion of campus and concrete for the auditorium floor had been poured. That December, work began on the structure itself — a structure being built using the wooden materials from the decommissioned theater that had been purchased by the school from the War Assets Administration, dismantled, and transported by volunteers to Freeman from the air base in Sioux Falls.

But just one day after work on the wooden frame began, progress halted because of winter weather.

It was as though higher powers had other plans.

The Mother Nature-driven break in construction gave school leadership time to reconsider plans to build a wooden structure and pivot to one made of fireproof materials, instead. And so it was that the new structure was framed using steel beams rather than wooden trusses and rose from the prairie — not out of wooden materials of the former theater — but out of brick.

The end result was Pioneer Hall, Freeman’s largest and most versatile building that was dedicated 75 years ago.

There’s no telling what would have happened had the school’s plans to build a shop building not been stymied by the wartime restrictions of the mid-1940s, or if weather hadn’t halted construction of the wooded building.

What is certain is that the building of Pioneer Hall was born out of need, vision, risk and circumstances beyond control, and rose on the backs of volunteer power and a roll-up-the-sleeves-and-get-it-done work ethic seeded deeply in the Mennonite ancestors who helped settle the Freeman community beginning in 1874.

What follows is a timeline curated by Heritage Hall Museum & Archives based on a detailed history of Pioneer Hall written by David P. Gross, who served as secretary of the Freeman Junior College Board of Directors from 1947 to 1958.

It was originally included in the November 1950 issue of the Freeman Junior College Bulletin, a regular publication shared with the school’s constituency.

1943

Blacksmith, mechanics and shop courses added to curriculum. There is also need for more room for the growing bookshop on campus.

1944

When plans to construct a 28 x 50 building for blacksmith, mechanics and shop classes are cancelled because of World War II-related restrictions, the basement of the “Old College” (Music Hall) is remodeled to house the program.

1945

With the end of World War II and school debts paid, a committee is established to explore post-war growth on campus.

The combination of need for more shop space, expanded bookshop, larger dining area for students, and lack of facility for larger community gatherings, prompts school officials to outline plans for new gym auditorium. That would enable moving shop classes into original gym (Tieszen IA Building) built in 1923. Two suggested sizes 120 x 140 and 104 x 140. Board sets goal of raising $75,000: $50,000 for building, $10,000 equipment and $15,000 to balance budget.

June 1947

School officials learn War Assets Administration is selling buildings in Sioux Falls and Mitchell. Buildings at Sioux Falls Air Base are being offered to schools at a discounted cost. That includes a 76 x 180 wooden, fully furnished theater and two 20 x 100 wooden barracks for $1,346. A single donation to fund purchasing the theater ($946) leads the Board to move forward. Plans were made to dismantle, transport and rebuild the theater on the southwest side of the campus and the baracks (moved in sections) for a boys dormitory east of the administration building. The process of dismantling begins in September 1947.

October 1947

The theater and two barracks are dismantled and moved to Freeman.

“The total cost of dismantling and moving these buildings was $1,200. Thirty days of work had been spent in Sioux Falls, 531 man-days or 3,731 man-hours donated, 50 truckloads of material had been hauled from Sioux Falls.” – David P. Gross

December 1947

While the theater in Sioux Falls had no basement, plans are to include one in Freeman. It would require 2,500 bags of cement, 400 yards of gravel, 200 yards of sand and $7,200 of steel.

March 1948

School officials accept a bid of $19,800 for the basement walls and floors.

September 1948

Concrete for main floor of the auditorium is poured

December 1948

Work begins on construction of wooden auditorium but comes to a halt after just one day because of winter weather.

“Fate had been kind to us because the following spring plans were changed and instead of a wooden fire hazard, we built a fireproof brick building. There had been rumors in the community that putting up such a large wooden structure was unwise. Among those who were strongly opposed to a wooden building were the former president of the board, Adolph Preheim, D. J. Mendel, at present the only living charter member of the Board; the Building Committee; and President (Edmund) Miller, who advocated building a brick building at the time he took office.

“So, on January 7, 1949, the Board was considering the possibility of building with bricks. There were two difficulties in the way. Firstly, additional funds, secondly, permission from the War Assets Administration, which had sold us the theatre at 80 percent discount on condition that we rebuild it of the same material and use it for a similar purpose.

“The first difficulty was overcome by deciding to build with Brickerete made by Gerhard Toews and Son. Although costing more than lumber, it would be more durable and beautiful and also more economical than wood in the long run, as well as cheaper than common brick.

“The second obstacle was also removed. Since the government had sold the air base to the city of Sioux Falls, our contract with the War Assets Administration was no more binding and we were at liberty to build as we choose.” – David P. Gross

June 1949

Project switches from using wooden trusses for roof to using steel, which lowered the sidewalls by about six feet.

“Wood from the original air base theater was then used to build the auditorium roof and ceiling, large stage with backstage rooms and partitions as well as a bookshop and the front lobby,” wrote Marnette D. Ortman Hofer in “Many Hands, Many Hearts,” a history of FJC/FA published in 2001.

September 1949

Despite earlier commitment to “pay as you go” the board — with backing from the corporation — borrows $7,000 to finish the roof.

October 1949

A concrete plaque, conceived, built and donated by Jonas Kaufman, is installed above the main entrance on the east side to the structure. It bears the name, Pioneer Hall, suggested by Edwin P. and Louise Graber to commemorate the 75th-year anniversary of the arrival of Mennonites in the community. Other names suggested included Harmony Hall, Bachmann Hall and Thanksgiving Hall.

December 1949

Pioneer Hall is wired and the lights go on for the first time.

January 1950

The heating system is installed.

In response to rumors in the community that Pioneer Hall had been built of inferior material with improper construction, the walls were crumbling and even that the building had been condemned:

“ … state inspector, Howard T. Cashman, was called in to inspect the building. He reported … the wall cracks were not critical nor excessive for this type of building, that the trusses were made by an experienced engineer and of ample strength, that the supports under the floor were entirely adequate for supporting the floor load. Samples of Brickcrete were tested and found to be strong enough to support … 88% more weight or pressure; in other words, the building could be eight times as high and still would be quite safe as far as the Brickcrete is concerned.”

– David P. Gross

May 1950

Second layer of concrete is poured for the gymnasium floor.

Freeman Junior College Womens Auxiliary completes its kitchen dining hall project and, on May 12, hosts a “Mother-Daughter Banquet” the first event in Pioneer Hall.

May 28, 1950

Pioneer Hall is dedicated; the service is the first time the auditorium is used for a public gathering.

Aug. 23-27, 1950

Three months later, local Mennonite churches hosted the 1950 summer triennial national meeting of the General Conference Mennonite Church there. Nearly 2,500 attendees came from across the United States and Canada.

This series is being produced in partnership with Heritage Hall Museum & Archives, which has provided a wealth of information through various resources, as well as a host of historic photos. It will conclude next week with more insight, memories and photos — lots of photos.